New car registrations soared last month, industry figures show, as pent-up demand for new vehicles helped the auto sector motor towards its 14th consecutive month of growth. September was the second busiest month of the year, with a 21 percent jump taking registrations to 272,610, according to the latest data from trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders SMMT. The electric car market continued to grow, with battery electric vehicle BEV numbers rising 18.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, hailed the “bumper September” but warned that the government needed to provide more incentives to encourage electric adoption in its upcoming Autumn Statement. Unlike in the other major markets working towards a 2035 deadline, UK private motorists have no incentives to encourage them to go green.